Parasitic Fly Larvae Research Articles

Rare case report of oral myiasis in immunocompetent patient

Oral myiasis is a condition in which the soft tissues of different parts of the oral cavity are invaded by the parasitic larvae of flies known as maggots. Parasites causing myiasis belong to the order Diptera. Oral myiasis is often seen secondary to oral wounds, suppurative lesions, and extraction wounds, especially in individuals with neurological deficits. In such cases, neglected oral hygiene and halitosis attract the flies to lay eggs in oral wounds, resulting in oral myiasis. Hereby, we present the case of oral myiasis in a 45‑year‑old male patient who is immunocompetent and has a history of dental extraction.

Genome-Wide Identification of Detoxification Genes in Wild Silkworm Antheraea pernyi and Transcriptional Response to Coumaphos.

For a half-century, the commercial wild silkworm, Antheraea pernyi, has been protected by coumaphos, which is an internal organophosphorus insecticide used to kill the potential parasitic fly larvae inside. Knowledge about the detoxification genes of A. pernyi as well as the detoxification mechanism for this species remains severely limited. In this study, we identified 281 detoxification genes (32 GSTs, 48 ABCs, 104 CYPs, and 97 COEs) in the genome of this insect, which are unevenly distributed over 46 chromosomes. When compared to the domesticated silkworm, Bombyx mori, a lepidopteran model species, A. pernyi has a similar number of ABCs, but a greater number of GSTs, CYPs, and COEs. By transcriptome-based expression analysis, we found that coumaphos at a safe concentration level significantly changed the pathways related to ATPase complex function and the transporter complex in A. pernyi. KEGG functional enrichment analysis indicated that protein processing in the endoplasmic reticulum was the most affected pathway after coumaphos treatment. Finally, we identified four significantly up-regulated detoxification genes (ABCB1, ABCB3, ABCG11, and ae43) and one significantly down-regulated detoxification gene (CYP6AE9) in response to coumaphos treatment, suggesting that these five genes may contribute to detoxification of coumaphos in A. pernyi. Our study provides the first set of detoxification genes for wild silkworms from Saturniidae and highlights the importance of detoxification gene repertoire in insect pesticide tolerance.

AN UNUSUAL PRESENTATION OF ORAL MYIASIS IN MAXILLA: A CASE REPORT

Myiasis is a universal term for infection by the parasitic fly larvae that feed on their host, which can be either living or dead tissue. Oral myiasis is still “rare” and “unique” due to the fact that oral cavity rarely provides the necessary habitat conducive for a larval lifecycle. In humans, the most commonly affected sites are the nose, eyes, skin wounds, sinuses, lungs, ears, gut, gallbladder, vagina, nasal cavities, and rarely the mouth. Here, we report a case of oral myiasis in an 83-year-old female patient reporting with swelling in the maxillary anterior region with the movement of bugs inside the mouth since 2–3 days. Treatment of myiasis has been discussed in the case report.

Host-parasite ecology, behavior and genetics: a review of the introduced fly parasite Philornis downsi and its Darwin’s finch hosts

Understanding host-parasite interactions requires that the multi-faceted relationships among ecological, behavioral and molecular processes be characterized and integrated. The introduced parasitic fly of birds, Philornis downsi (Diptera: Muscidae), was accidentally introduced to the Galapagos Islands circa 1960s and the consequences of its introduction represent one of the most challenging conservation battles faced within host-parasite ecology today. Larvae of the fly were first discovered in nests of Darwin’s finches (Passeriformes: Thraupidae) in 1997. The parasitic fly larvae are killing ~55 % of Darwin’s finch nestlings within nests by consuming the blood and tissue of developing birds, whereby the number of parasitic fly larvae in nests has increased by 46 % from 2000 to 2013. As nestlings increasingly die at an earlier age, which signifies earlier resource termination for the parasite, ~17 % of fly larvae also die. Several local finch populations have become extinct but some host species have increased in abundance, and as a consequence, may be sustaining P. downsi populations along with other non-finch hosts. The high mortality in both Darwin’s finches and P. downsi larvae creates opportunity and imperative to understand the coevolutionary dynamics of this newly evolving host-parasite system. This review examines the rapid changes in host and parasite ecology, behavior, and genetics since P. downsi larvae were first discovered in Darwin’s finch nests. The aim of the review is to synthesize what is known about this lethal host-parasite system and to describe rapid changes in host and parasite biology that characterize the novel association. An over-arching goal is the implementation of conservation outcomes that are informed by evolutionary biological understanding of invasive species.

Creepy Crawlies in the Lip: A Rare Case Report

Myiasis is the infestation of live human and vertebrate animal with dipterous larvae, which feed on the host's dead or living tissue. This phenomenon is well documented in the skin, especially among animals and people in poorly developed and developing countries. When the tissues of oral cavity are invaded by the parasitic larvae of flies, the condition is called as oral Myiasis. It is a rare condition caused by several species of dipteran fly larvae and may be secondary to serious medical and dental conditions. We hereby report a rare case of oral myiasis involving the lip in a 18-year-old male after road traffic accident and discussing the management of the same.

Oral myiasis involving palatal mucosa of a young female

In literal terms myiasis is the invasion of the tissues and organs of human beings by fly larvae. This phenomenon is well documented in the skin, especially among animals and people in developed and developing countries. When the tissues of oral cavity are invaded by the parasitic larvae of flies, the condition is called as oral myiasis. With the paper we are presenting a case of 19-year-old female suffering from oral myiasis of upper lip and palate. The treatment consisted of manual removal of the larvae, surgical debridement of the wound and oral therapy with doxycycline used as a locally acting drug for faster and better recovery.

Nosocomial myiasis in a patient with diabetes

This report describes a case of nosocomial myiasis caused by larvae of Sarcophaga (Bercaea) africa. The parasitosis developed in an ulcer on the heel of a patient with type 2 diabetes. The ulcer was dressed when the deposition occurred. An experiment was performed in order to demonstrate the ability of Sarcophaga larvae to move through bandages and reach purulent wounds. This report highlights the need for particular attention, education and specific protocols in hospitals in order to avoid myiasis, which can compromise the organization's reputation for hygienic standards with possible legal consequences.

ORAL MYIASIS - A CASE REPORT

Myiasis is the invasion of the tissues and organs of human beings by fly larvae. This phenomenon is well documented in the skin, especially among animals and people in poorly developed and developing countries. When the tissues of oral cavity are invaded by the parasitic larvae of flies, the condition is called as oral Myiasis. It is a rare condition caused by several species of dipteran fly larvae and may be secondary to serious medical and dental conditions. We here by report a rare case of oral myiasis involving the palate in a 43yrs old female non diabetic patient with mouth breathing and poorly debilitated with compromised periodontal condition and discussing the management of the same.

Parasite infestation and predation in Darwin's small ground finch: contrasting two elevational habitats between islands

Abstract:Contrasting ecological conditions may affect the distribution, abundance and impact of parasites and predators throughout the ranges of hosts and prey. Such patterns are evident on the archipelagos of Hawaii and the Galapagos, which vary in their distribution and abundance of avian parasites within and across islands. Previous research has documented higher intensity of parasitic fly larvae (Philornis downsi) in nests of Darwin's finches on elevated islands of the Galapagos. Here we examine P. downsi intensity and predation in 71 nests of Darwin's small ground finch (Geospiza fuliginosa) on Floreana Island. We found significant differences in parasite intensity, nest predation and clutch size between the lowland (0–100 m) and highland (300–400 m) habitats. Lowland finch nests had few P. downsi parasites (mean of 8 per nest), high nest predation (44% of nests) and large clutch size (3.4). Highland finch nests showed the opposite pattern, with many P. downsi parasites (40 per nest), low nest predation (17%) and small clutch size (2.5). This study suggests that the impacts of an introduced parasite are limited by its niche requirements and resource availability within and across islands. Our findings also imply that the vulnerability of bird populations to introduced parasites and predators is linked with variation in life history strategies across habitats.

Oral myiasis: a rare entity

Myiasis is the invasion of tissues and organs of human beings or other vertebrates by fly larvae. This phenomenon is well documented in the skin, especially among animals and people in tropical and subtropical areas.When tissues of the oral cavity are invaded by the parasitic larvae of flies, this condition is called oral myiasis. Oral myiasis is a rare condition that can be caused by several species of dipteran fly larvae and may be secondary to serious medical conditions. We hereby report a rare case of oral myiasis involving the palate in a 58-year-old diabetic patient and discuss the management of the same.

Oral myiasis: a case report

Oral Myiasis is a condition in which the soft tissues of different parts of oral cavity are invaded by the parasitic larvae of flies known as Maggots. This study presents a case of oral myiasis in 12 years old mentally retarded girl. Clinically, the patient had multiple perforations of the palatal mucosa at mid-hard palate and tunneling of the palatal gingivae from lateral incisor to the first molar on either side communicated to the palatal perforations. The patient was treated by mechanical removal of the maggots with simple curettage and irrigation with paraffin, povidone iodine and normal saline. After complete larvae removal, the wounds healed normally. Key words: Oral myiases, mentally retarded, fly larvae. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/bjms.v10i3.8367 BJMS 2011; 10(3): 206-208